Device for inserting an object into a bag

ABSTRACT

An inserting device includes a support surface for an object to be inserted into a bag and a deposit surface for the bag, the deposit surface being associated with the support surface. The support surface is mounted for movement between a first position for positioning the bag on the support surface and a second position for clamping the bag between the support surface and the deposit surface.

The invention relates to an inserting device according to the preamble of claim 1.

An inserting device of the aforementioned type is known from DE 20 2006 020 305 U1. This inserting device consists of a support surface (referred to in said document as a slip-on region 4) for an object to be inserted into a bag (which is closed on three sides) and of a deposit surface (referred to in said document as end section I′) which is associated with the support surface, for the filled bag after the object has been inserted. Such an inserting device is used in particular to insert an instrument carrier (object) to be fed to a sterilisation process into a sterile package (bag). In this known solution, the bag is first pushed virtually completely onto a holding-open device provided on the support surface. In the next step, the object is pushed into the bag by hand. Then the bag and the object are pushed together and with the bag still open on one side onto the deposit surface for further processing.

The problem addressed by the invention is that of improving an inserting device of the type mentioned in the introduction. In particular, an inserting device which is particularly simple in terms of the handling of the bag should be created.

This problem is solved in an inserting device of the type mentioned in the introduction by the features listed in the characterising part of claim 1.

According to the invention, therefore, the support surface is mounted movably between a first position for positioning the bag on the support surface and a second position for clamping the bag between the support surface and the deposit surface.

In other words, the solution according to the invention is thus characterised in that the bag, in particular a sterile bag, is no longer positioned on a support surface which is immobile and therefore only accessible to a limited extent, as in the prior art cited in the introduction, but in that the positioning of the bag on the support surface takes place in a first position and the insertion of the object, in particular an instrument carrier, into the bag takes place in a second position of the support surface in which the bag is at the same time clamped between the support surface and the deposit surface and thus does not have to be held in place manually while the object is inserted into the bag. Particularly preferably, the object's own weight acting on the support surface is used to fix the bag.

The stipulation, in particular in claim 1, according to which “a” support surface is provided for the object means that the device has “at least one” support surface for the object. A solution is also conceivable in which, for example, two support surfaces which can be adjusted relative to each other are provided, and therefore the support surface consists in principle of two individual partial support surfaces, in order to be able to take into account objects of different widths.

The term “deposit surface” has the meaning that it in any case has a size which prevents the bag falling off by itself or automatically. Particularly preferably, the deposit surface is at least as large as a side face, facing the deposit surface, of the bag lying ready to receive the object.

Other advantageous developments can be found in the dependent claims.

For the sake of completeness, reference is also made to DE 1 085 807 A. However, this solution at least does not have a deposit surface within the meaning of claim 1.

The inserting device according to the invention, including the advantageous developments thereof according to the dependent claims, is explained in more detail below using the drawings of two exemplary embodiments.

In the figures,

FIG. 1 schematically shows a side view of the inserting device according to the invention in the first position for positioning the bag;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the inserting device according to FIG. 1 in the second position as the object is initially inserted into the clamped bag;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a view from above of the inserting device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 again schematically shows a side view of the inserting device of FIGS. 1 to 3 in the second position with the object almost fully inserted into the bag; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the inserting device according to the invention, in which the support surface is in two parts and can be adjusted in width.

The inserting device according to the invention consists first in a known manner of a support surface 1 for an object, in particular an instrument carrier, to be inserted into a bag, in particular a sterile bag, and of a deposit surface 2, associated with the support surface 1 and preferably running horizontally, for the bag. Particularly preferably, the support surface 1 and/or the deposit surface 2 is/are rectangular, as desired.

It is also preferred for there to be on the support surface 1 a holding-open means for the bag, onto which the bag is pushed. This holding-open means preferably consists of guide elements 4 which are arranged on both sides of the support surface 1 and spaced from each other by more than the width of the object. More precisely, the guide elements 4 particularly preferably have a preferably smooth bag contact surface, the distance of which from the support surface 1 at an edge region 1.1 of the support surface 1 facing the deposit surface 2 is smaller than at an edge region 1.2 of the support surface 1 facing away from the deposit surface 2.

It is essential to the inserting device according to the invention, therefore, and this applies to all embodiments, that the support surface 1 is mounted movably between a first position for positioning the bag on the support surface and a second position for clamping the bag between the support surface and the deposit surface 2.

With regard to the movable mounting, the support surface 1 is particularly preferably mounted rotatably relative to the deposit surface 2, about a horizontal axis which is preferably perpendicular to the insertion direction of the object.

In other words, the support surface 1 is preferably in the form of a rocker with an upper face and a lower face.

In this case, an elastically deformable clamping element 3 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) is particularly preferably arranged on the lower face, facing the deposit surface 2, of the support surface 1, for better fixing of the bag.

As can easily be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the support surface 1 preferably has a rotary stop (in this case preventing further rotation in the anticlockwise direction) for fixing the first position.

Moreover, for particularly simple handling of the device, the support surface 1 is designed to assume the first position automatically when free from loading by the object, for example by a corresponding weight distribution of the rocker on both sides of the rotation axis thereof, i.e. by corresponding distribution of its own weight.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 5, the support surface 1 in the first position particularly preferably runs at an angle between 5° and 85°, preferably between 15° and 75°, particularly preferably between 25° and 65° (FIG. 1 shows an angle of 45°, for instance) to the horizontal deposit surface 2.

As can also be seen from FIGS. 2 to 4 (but also applies to the embodiment of FIG. 5), the support surface 1 in the second position is also preferably approximately horizontal (like the deposit surface 2), and in the second position a portion of the support surface 1 and a portion of the deposit surface 2 are arranged as parallel planes to each other.

To be able easily to transport the bag further, for example to a sealing station, after the object has been inserted, the deposit surface 2 is particularly preferably rotatable about a vertical axis or preferably pivotable by 90° to 270°, as desired, relative to the support surface 1 (see in particular FIG. 5).

Expressed in method terms according to the invention: in a first step (see FIG. 1), the bag is positioned on the support surface 1, which is in the first position (laying the majority of the bag on the deposit surface 2); in a second step (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the support surface 1 is brought into a second position which clamps the bag between the support surface and the deposit surface 2; and in a third step (see FIG. 4), the object is inserted fully into the bag lying on the deposit surface 2.

Finally, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 to 5, at least one part of the support surface 1 is preferably arranged above the deposit surface 2 in both positions, or at least one part of the support surface 1 is preferably always above the deposit surface 2 in both positions.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   1 Support surface -   1.1 Edge region -   1.2 Edge region -   2 Deposit surface -   3 Clamping element -   4 Guide element 

1. An inserting device, comprising a support surface (1) for an object to be inserted into a bag and a deposit surface (2) for the bag, the deposit surface (2) being associated with the support surface (1), wherein the support surface (1) is mounted movably between a first position for positioning the bag on the support surface (1) and a second position for clamping the bag between the support surface (1) and the deposit surface (2).
 2. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the support surface (1) is mounted rotatably about a horizontal axis relative to the deposit surface (2).
 3. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the support surface (1) is in the form of a rocker with an upper face and a lower face.
 4. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein an elastically deformable clamping element (3) is arranged on the lower face, facing the deposit surface (2), of the support surface (1), for better fixing of the bag.
 5. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the support surface (1) has a rotary stop for fixing the first position.
 6. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein the support surface (1) is designed to assume the first position automatically when free from loading by the object.
 7. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein a holding-open means for the bag is arranged on the support surface (1).
 8. The inserting device according to claim 1, wherein in the second position, a portion of the support surface (1) and a portion of the deposit surface (2) are arranged as parallel planes to each other.
 9. The inserting device according to claim 1 wherein the deposit surface (2) is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the support surface (1).
 10. A method for inserting an object into a bag using the inserting device according to claim 1, wherein in a first step, the bag is positioned on the support surface (1), which is in the first position; in a second step, the support surface (1) is brought into a second position which clamps the bag between the support surface (1) and the deposit surface (2); and in a third step, the object is inserted into the bag. 